Feature by Alice Cary

These six sparkling poetry books speak to young readers of all ages, addressing a symphony of subjects with creativity, humor and style.STARTING SMALLIn the introduction to Wee Rhymes: Baby’s First Poetry Book, longtime collaborators Jane Yolen and artist Jane Dyer explain how vital poetry is: “Children who are given poetry early will have a fullness inside. Mother Goose rhymes,...

Fun and games

Jack Prelutsky is one of the kings of children's poetry, and he has teamed up with Caldecott Medal winner Chris Raschka to create what is no doubt a winning book: Good Sports: Rhymes about Running, Jumping, Throwing, and More. Prelutsky, widely known for his enormously accessible and humorous poetry, won the inaugural Children's Poet Laureate award, a title bestowed last fall by the Poetry...

Feature by Alice Cary

Why is Halloween such a heavenly holiday for children? Here's one answer from Barbara Robinson's The Best Halloween Ever: "It's like you get to have all the candy there is, all at once. You get to look at it, and count it, and separate it into little piles . . . . And trade it . . . and eat it."Halloween can be terrifying, not to mention cavity-promoting, but The Best Halloween Ever...